SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Thursday vowed to give premium to freedom of the press and transparency of government if he gets elected President next year.

Lacson, who is running for president under Partido Reporma, said there is no reason for the government to hide what it is doing if it is not involved in any wrongdoing.

“Una, ang freedom of the press hindi lang importante sa demokrasya. It is democracy itself,” he said at the first Lacson-Sotto media forum.

“Bakit kami kailangang magtago? I’m all for it,” he added.

Sotto, who is running for vice president under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, vowed to uphold freedom of information.

“We will pursue freedom of information,” he said.

Lacson reiterated that he and Sotto are prepared to present solutions to the country’s problems.

“May nakahanda kaming solution, katulong namin mga expert sa kani-kanilang fields of interest. Nakahanda kami magbigay ng solusyon sa problema sa ating bansa,” he said.